Canadian health care workers say they feel gaslighted by governments

By Thomas I. Likness
Eagle News Service


(Eagle News) — Some harsh words for governments in Canada from the country’s health care workers.

“Our frontline workers are no longer on the brink of exhaustion, they are exhausted,” Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Katherine Smart told a news conference Wednesday. “Given that they are not currently getting the support that they need, they are also not seeing any hope or light at the end of this very long tunnel.

“This is clearly unacceptable pure and simple,” said Smart.

The CMA, along with the Canadian Nurses Association met Tuesday night with more than 30 organizations representing health care professionals to discuss the crisis they face.

Smart says once the pandemic is over, there will be a legacy of workplace issues that have to be addressed.

She says those issues include burnout and staffing, and providing long-term mental health support for health care workers.

Smart says the country has to do a better job of managing its health care resources, noting there is a doctor shortage.

Government gaslighting workers

Governments were criticized for not listening to people in the health care system and not taking ownership of their roles in the pandemic.

“Health care workers want our leaders to be honest,” she said. “I think health care professionals feel gaslighted by the government.”

Smart says the government is playing politics with health care and instead of taking action, blaming jurisdictional issues for their inaction.

The western Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were singled out by Smart.

“I think what we have learned from Alberta and Saskatchewan is that we have to be cautious when reopening and moving forward, and not lift all measures at once,” she said.

She adds the country needs vaccine mandates to get as many people as possible immuniz4ed against COVID-19.

And she says Canada should develop a functional national vaccine passport.

(Eagle News Service)